So saying, Eyrisunn ran towards what looked to be an opening in the grotto, where stone walls melted into sea and sky. The crashing water came as a relief to Ever, who was quite sick of the echoing effects of the stone stronghold. True to Eyrisunn's albeit contradictory word, there was not much farther the pirate could have wandered; for the banners of Sahagin punctuated the end of the grotto's path, complete with empty docks meant either for emerging fish folk or passing ships.

Unsurprisingly, there stood a Sahagin upon the stony outcropping, addressing the captain with as much anger as disgust. He waved his trident in the Captain's face, who stumbled backward in fear.

Ever had never seen a man of the Sahagin race before, but she had read about them in books of history and fairytale. The sea faring race took on the features of fish but the limbs of men, and spoke as though there was always water sloshing around in their mouths. Even knowing this, she was not expecting the crimson fins upon the Sahagin's back to be so large; nor was she expecting his fish face to sport such long fangs. She imagined the blue-grey skin must be slimy to the touch, like any creature of the deep; but she was amazed, most of all, that the beastman's hands were as long and slender as her own.

"Psssh…" The Sahagin's voice grew audible as they drew nearer, approaching fearlessly. "You sssully our ssspawning grounds, shorewalker!"

"Mercy!" cried the Captain. "Mercy, boss!"

The Sahagin did not like this. He knocked the Captain out cold with the blunt end of his trident.

"You there!" cried Eyrisunn, rushing fearlessly toward the scene. "Does Mammering Madison answer to you!?"

Did he come up with that just now? Ever frowned, drawing her scepter with the utmost reluctance.

"Pshhh! Finleshhh fools!" The beastman raised his trident. "Dare you tread upon these sssands?"

"Who are you," said Ever. "How long has this farce been going on?"

"Ssscum of the sssea!" The Sahagin lunged his trident toward Eyrisunn, who quickly lifted his shield. "The Lord of the Whorl shhhall sssup upon your sssouls in the name of Denn the Orcatoothed!"

"Denn the Orcatoothed!" Eyrisunn drew forth his blade, charging at the sahagin. "After today, they will call you Denn of the Half Tongue!"

You can't have half a tongue. You either cut the whole thing out, or— Oh, why was she bothering with an old man's make-believe? If Eyrisunn wished to play at hero, then so it would be.

The party followed his lead, fanning out over the area. Pudada kept close to Ever, who knew to keep a distance from her enemies. At least there was only the one; but the beastman's trident was imposing, and promised more than a lancer's prowess. She smelled the magic ebbing from it even before it had cast a spell. What kind of mage would she be if she hadn't?

"Sssilence, Sssea Wolf!" Denn's trident clanged against the Roegadyn's sword. As if to affirm her suspicions, a great wave of water spilled from the three prongs, knocking Eyrisunn back. "Your kind are the worst sssort of trasssh!"

Yet, the paladin was not deterred; he flung his shield at the beastman's head, knocking him back. The sahagin's scaly tale kept him stumbling off his feet, then swept the ground and tripped up the paladin. A flurry of arrows kept Denn away from Eyrisunn, prompting him to spin his trident to stay their bites. Biff seemed to enjoy this, or perhaps he took it as a challenge. He pulled an arrow back, carefully aligning it with the bowstring; and when crimson magicks collected at its tip, he let it soar, laughing wildly, a madman drunk on the power of the motion.

It was impressive, to be sure; but it amounted to little, for it was slapped away by the mighty stroke of Denn's scaly tail. This clearly annoyed Biff, who flung two arrows at once in retaliation, both of them poison tipped. Ever laced them with lightning mid-air; and when one stuck in Denn's shoulder, the beastman cried out with in terrible pain.

Eyrisunn thrust his sword into the beastman's belly. "Die, you fiend! Your minions will no longer storm our coasts!"

Denn clutched at the sword as blood oozed from the wound it carved. He grinned wide, and each of his wicked teeth gleamed with malice as he fell to the ground.

"Foolishhh adventurers!" His body began to dissolve into aether, or what Ever thought was aether; but this was not the way a man died, nor was it the way magic had smelled to her nose. It dripped from his disappearing limbs in violet waves of light, then scattered into the air, as though it never existed at all. The last of his voice echoed even after his vessel was lost: "Your sssouls will yet ssserve the Lord of the Whorl…!"

"He's gone," whispered Pudada, approaching the spot from which he vanished. "There isn't even blood left. Is this… what happens to tempered?"

"No," said Eyrisunn. "I presume he was bound to Leviathan more than most, with other malicious magicks. Do not linger on it, Miss Pudada, lest it come to haunt you."

"Don't linger on it?" Ever scoffed. "Is that how you've managed all these years as a 'veteran' adventurer? You don't linger on the impact of your deeds, nor the implications of your enemy's actions? Their motivations? It's no wonder you've barely made it past menial hunts and quarries!"

"Miss Starfall," said Eyrisunn, firmly, "I will kindly disregard your mocking tone, as you are yet green as a sprout. However, I will not forget your uncompromising attitude, which has taken a toll on the party's morale as a whole. Do not look forward to hearing from me again."

"So it's true." Ever crossed her arms. "You feel remorse for your actions. You feel as though you owe a thought or two toward your actions. And yet you disregard this, for the sake of sleeping peacefully in your bed at night."

Eyrisunn shot her a warning glance, as if to say, Push no further, girl. He could not have known that Miss Starfall was as fearless as she was stubborn. She approached him, unapologetic.

"Heeding the call of others does not a paladin make," said Ever. "I suggest you avoid calling yourself anything but an adventurer."

"She's right about that," said Biff.

Eyrisunn glowered at Biff. "You're taking her side?"

Biff glanced at Ever, then nodded. "I said it before. We're sellswords. We were sent in here as a last resort. The Yellow Jackets couldn't care less if we died. It would've confirmed their suspicions either way. What kinda glory is that? Actin' like we're in this fer other people… It's true, but it also ain't."

"You're a La Noscean lad," said Eyrisunn.

"I am."

"The Reavers and their ilk have been raiding the coasts, killing innocents, looting." Eyrisunn's brow knitted. "Did you not do this for your countryman? For their betterment? For their peace of mind?"

"I did," said Biff, "but I also did it fer the gil. Anyone else could've come along an' done the same. That don't make me special, an' that don't make this glorious."

Eyrisunn shook his head, pityingly. "You diminish yourself, lad. Perhaps you, too, Miss Starfall, feel it necessary to diminish our accomplishments."

"Diminish!" Ever leered at the paladin, eyes afire. "I diminish nothing! The gravity of the situation is lost on you. We have slaughtered an entire crew! And for what? For gil? For the promise of food the next morning? There is no glory in our debasement. You are the one who cloaks himself in illusion and reshapes the truth, all for your pretty little wife!"

"Don't you dare," growled Eyrisunn. "Only soft-handed academics like yourself can afford to live cozy, conflict free lives in Eorzea. You know nothing of me or my struggles, and I have shown you nothing but courtesy, regardless of your persistent snipes." With this, Eyrisunn started back the direction they came, sheathing his weapons. "Good day to you all."

Pudada shuddered. As soon as his footsteps faded away, and she could be sure he was out of earshot, she whispered, "Perhaps I should go comfort him?"

"If you like," spat Ever. "He didn't exactly treat you with courtesy. You have suffered enough."

"Let him cool off on his own," agreed Biff. "We don't have tae go with him, but we oughta go talk t' Baderon. Let him know what happened."

"Yes," nodded Pudada, lowering her eyes. "You're both right. Let's hurry."